Pelagius

E6765

Pelagius was a 4th–5th century British monk and theologian best known for denying original sin and emphasizing human free will and moral responsibility in opposition to Augustine.

Aliases (2)


Statements (48)

Predicate Object
instanceOf Christian monk
Christian theologian
late antique writer
monk
religious reformer
accusedOf heresy
activeYearsEndTime early 5th century
activeYearsStartTime late 4th century
associatedWith North Africa
Palestine
Rome
birthPlace Great Britain
surface form: "Britain"
citizenship Roman Empire
condemnedBy Councils influenced by Augustine’s theology
conflict Pelagianism
surface form: "Pelagian controversy"
contemporaryOf Augustine of Hippo
Jerome
ethicalEmphasis personal responsibility for sin and virtue
strict moral rigorism
gender male
historicalPeriod Late Antiquity
influenced Pelagianism
surface form: "Pelagian movement"

later debates on grace and free will
knownFor Pelagianism
denial of original sin
emphasis on human free will
emphasis on moral responsibility
languageOfWorkOrName Latin
movement Pelagianism
notableWork Commentary on the Epistles of Paul
Letter to Demetrias
occupation monk
theologian
opposedBy Augustine of Hippo
opposedDoctrine Augustinian doctrine of original sin
necessity of irresistible grace for salvation
religion Christianity
theologicalPosition affirmation of the natural ability of the human will
denial that Adam’s sin is transmitted as guilt to all humans
humans can choose good without the necessity of divine grace
insistence on the possibility of a sinless life through effort and grace
tradition Western Christianity
surface form: "Latin Christianity"
viewOnBaptism baptism is not required to remove inherited guilt
viewOnGrace grace assists but does not determine the will
viewOnHumanNature each person is born without inherited guilt
human nature is created good
viewOnLaw God’s commandments imply human ability to obey them
viewOnSin sin is the result of free choice, not inherited corruption

Referenced by (10)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Pelagianism associatedWith Pelagius
Letter to Demetrias author Pelagius
Original sin debatedBy Pelagius
Pope Zosimus interactedWith Pelagius
Pelagianism namedAfter Pelagius
Church Fathers notableMember Pelagius
this entity surface form: "Augustine of Hippo"
this entity surface form: "Pelagianism"